Psychological Safety in the Workplace Begins with Listening

In my last post, I mentioned one of my north stars for freelancing: working with values-aligned people who are genuinely committed to creating spaces where *everyone* can thrive.

Yesterday, I had one of those “this is why I do this” moments after a call with a client who leads HR at an Indigenous organization. We’d previously worked together on a sub-brand for one of their employee mental health and wellness programs. And now, they’re bringing me on to create campaign concepts and illustrations that support psychological safety in the workplace.

First of all, my mind was blown that we were even having this conversation (yep, I still have to battle my inner jaded-by-the-workplace cynic on the regular). HR + a company that actually cares about psychological safety?

Second, what stood out most was how deeply caring - and not performative - their approach was. After gathering direct feedback from employees, my client listed multiple ways they were immediately shifting their actions. No hemming. No hawing. They listened, they believed, they understood, and they acted… right after the meeting.

Third, this is yet another example of why we need to turn to Indigenous organizations and leadership for guidance around stewardship - in land, nature, and across all areas of life, including business. I’ve learned so much in just a 45-minute conversation.

What if more workplaces approached initiatives like this—not as items to tick off a list, but as genuine invitations into meaningful, lived experiences of belonging?

Imagine what could happen.